Spike-extractor



(Nu Model.)

B. T. SHARP.

SPIKE EXTRAGTOR.

No. 303,888. Patented Aug. 19, 1884.

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

EDGAR T. SHARP, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPIKE-EXTRACTORs SPECIPICATIONfonning part of Letters Patent No.803,888, dated August 19, 1884.

(No model.)

2'0 (all wit/mi it 122/14; concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR Tgsniinr, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State oflilassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Imp rovemeutsinSpike-Extractors; and I hereby declare that the same are fully describedin the following specification and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

The obj ect of this invention is to provide an implement of improvedconstruction for extracting bolts and spikes from timber, especially forwithdrawing rail-spikes i'roin railroad-ties without injury to thespikes, and with great saving in time and labor.

The peculiarities of my implement will be readily understood from thedrawings, which show its points of difference from the ordinary barheretofore used for the same pur pose, but liable to bend or break thespikes.

Figures 1 and 2 represent my improvedin'iplenient in two differentpositionsone showing its first application. to the driven spike, and theother the position when partly drawn out. Figs. 3 and 4 show in enlargedperspeetive and front views the lower port-ionof the tool; and Fig.shows how the spike-head is held by the points of the jaws until it iscompletely extracted, its body meanwhile entering the groove betweenthem.

The entire implementis preferably of steel. It consists, essentially, ofa body or handle, A, preferably about four and a half or five feet long,smooth, and somewhat tapering, as

shown, and a curved head, B, having two projecting jaws, G O, riveted toit, the extreme points or outer edges of which are turned toward eachother, as at o c, leaving between them a groove or opening, D, ofsuflieient breadth to admit the body of the spike without allowing thehead to pass. The points or inward-turned edges 0 001" the jaws extendfar enough beyond the head 13 to give room for the head of the spike notonly when the tool. first seizes it with the points 0 c beneath thesides of its head, but also when the spike-head has tilted upon suchpoints in drawing out the spike. The points remain beneath the head ofthe spike until it is entirely drawn out, as in Fig. 5, the curved backof the implement sliding somewhat on the tie to permit a steady upwardmovement, and the fulcrum continually changing meanwhile. The body ofthe spike enters the groove 1), between the points 0 c, and is thus keptfrom being bent or broken while drawn upward. The jaws O C are formeddistinct from the body B, and are firmly riveted to it. Thisconstruct-ion perniits the use of a better grade of steel in the jaws,upon which the principal strain comes, than in the head and handle, andalso renders repairs more convenient and economical than in priordevices where the head and jaws are integral.

I claim as my invention- The improved spike-extractor herein de scribed,consisting of the handle A and curved body'B, in combination with thejaws O C, riveted firmly to the sides of the body B, and provided withthe inwardturned edges 0 c to engage with the spike-head while admittingits bodyinto the groove D between them, sub stantially as set forth.

In testimony whereoflhereto alfix mysignature in presence of twowitnesses.

EDGAR T. SHARP.

\Vit nesses:

A. H. SPENCER,

A. PHELPS.

